As the title says, I'm in a bit of a dilemma and hope you guys can help me out. The last console I bought was a Sega Mega Drive (aka Sega Genesis), so I'm a bit out of the loop on these matters.

I'm a PC gamer at heart, but unfortunately not every game is released on (or ported to) PC, as such I became interested on an Xbox 360 (slim). I saw one on a store at $190 (or 150€). The Xbox would be used to play some console exclusive games like Red Dead Redemption and the like.

- Do you think this is a good deal, or is the announcement of the next Xbox expected to lead to a price to drop? Wouldn't it make sense that they mantain the price in order to avoid people buying an 360 instead of the new one?
- Do users with Xbox Live Free have access to the Marketplace?
- I would be buying the 4GB version and buy an hard drive later on. Do I need to buy an official hard drive, or an unbranded one does the trick?
- Can I use my laptop as a display?
- Any reason for why I should avoid buying it? I admit that I'm afraid to not use it as often as I would like to in order to make the investment worthwhile.

it's a good deal. i have 2 myself. the old core system and the newer one with integrated wifi and hdmi port. pretty sure you can get on marketplace with the free version of xbox live. i recommend the 320 gig system though...4 gigs is not enough. as far as using it 'little' idk i leave mine on for hours sometimes. not sure about laptop display.

not sure when the new xbox is coming out, but if you'r eonly going to be playing a few games the 4 gig one probably do just fine unless you're going to download off marketplace which it sounded like you were thinking about, then you would definitely want a bigger hard drive.

Battle is a pure form of expression. It is heart and discipline, reduced to movement and motion. In battle, the words are swept away, giving way to actions-- mercy, sacrifice, anger, fear. These are pure moments of expression.

RDR is pretty sweet, but is it worth the cost of a 360? Even a discounted one? Dunno, that's a tough call. There are a couple of other 360/console exclusive titles I guess, but at this stage of the game, with the 720 (or whatever it ends up being called) due out at Xmas...

I would say even if you are dead set on it, hold off for now. It will surely see a further price reduction to clear stock in the leadup and subsequent to the 720's launch.

RDR is pretty sweet, but is it worth the cost of a 360? Even a discounted one? Dunno, that's a tough call. There are a couple of other 360/console exclusive titles I guess, but at this stage of the game, with the 720 (or whatever it ends up being called) due out at Xmas...

Well, Red Dead Redemption is just an example (although it's the game I'm interested the most). I have other games in mind, although not that many (it's indeed a though call). As for the next Xbox, it's really not a factor since I'm not interested in it. My main concern is its effect on the price of the 360.

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Originally Posted by DarthParametric

I would say even if you are dead set on it, hold off for now. It will surely see a further price reduction to clear stock in the leadup and subsequent to the 720's launch.

That's the thing. The one I've seen has this discount precisely to clear the stock. It was the only one as well (it can probably be already gone). But next time I go to the store, I would like to be sure if I'm going to buy it or not.

My point about the 720 was not that you should consider buying one, but that its arrival means there is not much more mileage in 360, so it's a reduced proposition in terms of future value. It will likely still see releases into next year given its massive install base, but it's extremely doubtful that any of them are going to be exclusives.

Additionally, as I suggested above, the 360's price will fall as time goes on (within reason obviously). If you are worried about the one you saw being a one-off, it will be widespread soon enough.

My point about the 720 was not that you should consider buying one, but that its arrival means there is not much more mileage in 360, so it's a reduced proposition in terms of future value. It will likely still see releases into next year given its massive install base, but it's extremely doubtful that any of them are going to be exclusives.

Oh, I'm aware of that. Of course new releases are always welcome, but I'm fine with the already vast catalogue (not to mention the many backward compatible original Xbox games). I merely didn't take a good look at it yet, that's why only an handful of games have caught my interest so far.

I'm having the same problem, my 360 is on it last leg. I have another at the office for kids to use, but I hate to take it home. I have been looking for a replacement without spending too much since the new one will likely be out for Christmas. Around $190.00 - $200.00 is a very common price around here and online at the moment. You may actually even consider refurbished. I have been leaning that way since it is no longer my primary game play devise.

If you have a interest in Halo, Gears of War,Forza, and Fable the 360 is a good place to be, but I got a PS3 about a year ago and find it a good investment due to its great and bigger amount of quality exclusives and actually love it more than the 360. The fighting games are better on PS3 IMO due to the controller.

Plus the online is free. Without LIVE on 360 kinda makes it half a console. I have a Playstation Plus subscription and get alot of free games from it.

If you have a interest in Halo, Gears of War,Forza, and Fable the 360 is a good place to be, but I got a PS3 about a year ago and find it a good investment due to its great and bigger amount of quality exclusives and actually love it more than the 360.

I don't have much of an interest in each console exclusives. I mean, one has Halo and the other has ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, but since the price is the biggest factor here, the Xbox has the advantage.

I know you said you weren't interested in the next generation console, but if the price difference isn't too extravagantly high and if it has backwards capacity, it might be smarter to get the nextgen one as there might be some exclusive game you want really bad, and you would be in the same predicament you are now.

Just my 2 cents, also I hear it is possible to connect your xbox and laptop through hdmi for display

rumours I know you said you weren't interested in the next generation console, but if the price difference isn't too extravagantly high and if it has backwards capacity, it might be smarter to get the nextgen one as there might be some exclusive game you want really bad, and you would be in the same predicament you are now.

Well, it will take some years for the new console to reach this price ($190), and if the obligatory online connection rumours are true, I will certainly not buy it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HK-42

rumours Just my 2 cents, also I hear it is possible to connect your xbox and laptop through hdmi for display

I don't have much of an interest in each console exclusives. I mean, one has Halo and the other has ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, but since the price is the biggest factor here, the Xbox has the advantage.

Understandable. PlayStation has so much more than just ICO/Shadow of the Colossus tho!

I know you said you weren't interested in the next generation console, but if the price difference isn't too extravagantly high and if it has backwards capacity, it might be smarter to get the nextgen one

The PS4 isn't backwards compatible and the 720 isn't likely to be either. It costs too much to include dedicated hardware for it (which is why Sony stripped it out of the PS3).

Consoles are never cheap, buying games for consoles aren't cheap either. If you're worried about spending too much money then I suggest you get a proper list of games down, the games you're definitely going to get and figure out what price they're selling for and how cheap you can get them and how much this is going to cost you all up.

Understandable. PlayStation has so much more than just ICO/Shadow of the Colossus tho!

Do you plan on playing online?

I know, I was only mentioning the exclusives I actually found to be interesting.

And no, I have no plans for online. Even if it was free, I would only play once or twice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynk Former

Consoles are never cheap, buying games for consoles aren't cheap either. If you're worried about spending too much money then I suggest you get a proper list of games down, the games you're definitely going to get and figure out what price they're selling for and how cheap you can get them and how much this is going to cost you all up.

That's true, and I've already done that. The reason I intend to buy a console now is because both the console and the games I'm interested in are already found cheap (or at an affordable price).

Buy a Wii U, then you have access to all of those exclusive Wii and (current lack of) Wii U games and also all of the Virtual Console games *nods*

lol, I'm kidding, I know everyone here doesn't like Nintendo.

Anyway, if you've done the math then buy away, I say. I mean, you could always "wait for the right moment" but a lot of the time you end up waiting for a long time for that perfect moment to buy stuff when all you really want to do is play the damn thing now.

Anyway, if you've done the math then buy away, I say. I mean, you could always "wait for the right moment" but a lot of the time you end up waiting for a long time for that perfect moment to buy stuff when all you really want to do is play the damn thing now.

I shall do so the next time I find one with this pricetag. Let's hope Durango makes them easier to find.

Have you tried eBay Alexrd? Thats one scary place but can contain amazing deals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynk Former

lol, I'm kidding, I know everyone here doesn't like Nintendo.

Hey! Its their own fault! I still love Zelda though. Their portables are always fantastic. The 3DS is amazing and the games to boot! But on the console side I think they have lost of alot of what made them great, I loved the Gamecube...but wouldn't buy a Wii myself, good thing my sister has one for me to play my Wii Twilight Princess on!

But honestly, I think they are trying to hard to cater to casual audiences or everybody while also trying to please the "hardcore" fans at the same time. There are still solely about making games which is a good thing(unlike *cough* Microsoft *cough*) but compared to the PC and other two consoles their games aren't as good or in a small quantity. The 3DS has much better games being made by Nintendo than what is on the Wii, I don't get it.

However, I do enjoy DKCR, Kirby: Return to Dreamland, and Skyward Sword. As well as Smash Bros and Mario Kart Wii. I just don't like the focus on motion controls at all. I wish Skyward Sword utilized the classic controller. I do plan on owning a Wii/Wii U for myself one day, but am in no rush due to the great and bigger library of games on other consoles.

Here's all the Wii games I have... seems like a lot to me, and most of them are pretty damn good. I think my current generation console line-up (Wii, PS3, 360) is 50% Nintendo, 50% Sony+Microsoft).

However, there is a point to why you think that there aren't as many Wii games worth buying as there really are, it's because a) No one seems to advertise games released on Wii and they end up becoming pretty low profile despite being great games and b) most folks just don't choose to look and actually see what's available. They just assume it's just a Mario game and a Zelda game and that's it.

No one really does the kind of research Alexrd did to figure out which 360 exclusive games he wants because they just assume there's nothing to look for to begin with and assume that whatever is there won't be to their liking to begin with.

The Wii's catalogue is mostly made of exclusives. But those same exclusives, as good as they are, don't interest me as much as the multiplatform offers of the Xbox and PS3. And like GeneralPloKoon, I really don't like the heavy focus on motion control. Otherwise, I would buy games like New Super Mario Bros. instantly.

As a fan of Sonic, I really envy Mario as far as quality games and treatment go.

Because it has a controller capable of motion controls doesn't actually mean every game uses it. Plus you also have to understand that there's motion controls, aka "waggle" and pointer controls... which is basically just aiming the Wiimote at the sensor bar to... well, aim. Works really well in Metroid Prime with Samus' armcannon and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories with the flashlight.

I didn't like the motion control stuff on Wii either, but I loved the aim controls for the system, it's one of the best things about the system that I miss on Wii U because it takes a backseat to the GamePad. Most of the games I absolutely adore for Wii don't actually use motion controls, and a lot of them don't even use any of the newer control options Wii introduced and simply use buttons and analog sticks.

Again, people see a sytem that has an added control option and assume that's how most of the games will run and that they're all based on you waving your arms around like an idiot.

If that were true, I wouldn't have bought the games I bought... cause I agree with all of you, that kind of stuff is stupid and I don't want to play that kind of stuff either... but stuff like Xenoblade Chronicles and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn don't have that kind of jazz...

Because it has a controller capable of motion controls doesn't actually mean every game uses it.

I know (I even mentioned one that didn't). The point was, the console (and therefore a good chunk of its catalogue) is focused on the motion control, which makes it less appealing to me when compared to the Xbox, for example.

A good chunk of it's catalogue that I never bought... but I still ended up buying 50+ games for the system anyway. You're making the same assumptions about Wii as I did about the PSP and am doing right now about Vita even though realistically I know there are good games for the system and that I know I can get the system and the games for dirt cheap, I just don't want to bother looking.

Also, those guys in that video are idiots. Always connected is not a good thing because if you're offline, your games won't work on the system. As for the $99 system, is that the one I've been hearing about that's going to force people to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold to use?

Also, those guys in that video are idiots. Always connected is not a good thing because if you're offline, your games won't work on the system.

Agreed. I think that's the main reason for why I will never buy the next Xbox. If I already have a problem with Steamworks DRM specially because of its online requirement to install and play a game, imagine an always on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynk Former

As for the $99 system, is that the one I've been hearing about that's going to force people to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold to use?

There was a some kind of "promo" where you could buy a 250GB 360 S for $99, but at the same time you had to subscribe Gold for at least 2 years.

I really hope all of those rumours turn out to be false and Durango is just a regular console... otherwise, I'm totally skipping it, doesn't matter what games come out for the system, I can't trust it.

Here's all the Wii games I have... seems like a lot to me, and most of them are pretty damn good. I think my current generation console line-up (Wii, PS3, 360) is 50% Nintendo, 50% Sony+Microsoft).

However, there is a point to why you think that there aren't as many Wii games worth buying as there really are, it's because a) No one seems to advertise games released on Wii and they end up becoming pretty low profile despite being great games and b) most folks just don't choose to look and actually see what's available. They just assume it's just a Mario game and a Zelda game and that's it.

No one really does the kind of research Alexrd did to figure out which 360 exclusive games he wants because they just assume there's nothing to look for to begin with and assume that whatever is there won't be to their liking to begin with.

Thats a excellent library of games, but I think another problem with the Wii not counting the multi-platform titles is that it seems specialized towards children/families or Japanese fans(fans of Japanese-esque games). For western audiences the other two consoles may be more appealing. Its all about the taste of the particular gamer and I think Wii is more of a family friendly console more than anything else.

With the exception of Nintendo and Sega I don't really know any Japanese developers I get excited about anymore. I think Square-Enix lost me with Final Fantasy 13 and Capcom I have had annoyances with on every level after loving then in the 90s. Thats really my opinion, but I think alot of western audiences have lost interest in many of the Japanese games, where the Wii has the most of its exclusive library consisted of.

This is kinda sad and causes many games on the console to be skipped, but games like Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story are games that cater to a very specific audience. Mario and Zelda being the more well-know IPs its understandable people may think thats all there is on the system. Japanese games have become forgotten to the West, or the majority.

I suck at this. Trying to explain stuff on a message board!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexrd

The Wii's catalogue is mostly made of exclusives. But those same exclusives, as good as they are, don't interest me as much as the multiplataform offers of the Xbox and PS3. And like GeneralPloKoon, I really don't like the heavy focus on motion control. Otherwise, I would buy games like New Super Mario Bros. instantly.

As a fan of Sonic, I really envy Mario as far as quality games and treatment go.

New Super Mario Bros. really doesn't use motion controls and has the Wii-mote work as a controller. That's awesome and I wish Skyward Sword had a no motion-controls option! The Virtual Console store is great though if you
love the old school Nintendo/Genesis&Mega-Drive games.

But yeah, I think motion controls is silly. Probably because I have used controllers for so long.

I'm a massive Sonic fan too! I think Sega has done really well with Sonic Colors(a Wii Exclusive ) and Sonic Generations. I think Sonic is going to make a comeback from his Dark Times if SEGA keeps up the quality!